I recorded my sermon Thursday morning and submitted it to be compiled in our worship stream.
By Friday evening, I wished I had the chance to re-film, to address the protests for racial justice and the threats of violence. By Saturday at noon, I wished I had a chance to re-film, to recount the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit and the hope and excitement she engendered among our vestry and clergy at our Saturday morning workshop as we discerned the future of worship and ministry at St. James's. By midnight, I longed to talk about the hope we have in the Holy Spirit amid the growing unrest and violence in Richmond city.
But at 10am Sunday, I sat down to worship with my daughter at our altar in our sacred space, and let it go.
I let go and moved out of the way as the Holy Spirit took off.
In her wisdom, the Holy Spirit had given me a word: Jesus' Truth. What I had already preached spoke a holy word better than anything else I could have changed or added.
For the Truth of the Good News is timeless. The Truth of the Good News is simple. It is we who are complicated. Jesus' Truth holds water, holy water, regardless of what is happening. God is never-changing. It is we who move, our perspectives that are shaken and shifted by the sands we build upon. That is how we see the Truth in a new light.
The Holy Spirit is moving in the midst of our crosses. The Holy Spirit is clearing away clutter and confusion and planting seeds and giving order and growth to creative new ministries and worship opportunities, is breathing new life into dry and dusty corners of our lives. The Holy Spirit is opening eyes to financial and economic injustice in our culture and is moving for justice and wholeness for the common good. The Holy Spirit is bringing comfort and hope to the distressed and lonely.
The Holy Spirit shows us the Way and the Truth and the Life. We just need to listen, let go and follow.
Yesterday, Monday, June 1, was the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth from Luke 1.
Pray with me her Magnificat:
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
